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Title: Physical activity assessed with three different methods and the Framingham Risk Score on 10-year coronary heart disease risk

Author
item SUMINSKI, RICHARD - KS CITY UNIV MED BIOSCI
item POSTON, WALKER S - UNIV MO-KS CITY SCH MED
item Foreyt, John
item ST JEOR, SACHIKO - UNIV NV SCH MED

Submitted to: Medical Science Monitor
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/31/2007
Publication Date: 1/1/2008
Citation: Suminski, R.R., Poston, W.S.C., Foreyt, J.P., St Jeor, S. 2008. Physical activity assessed with three different methods and the Framingham Risk Score on 10-year coronary heart disease risk. Medical Science Monitor. 14(1):CR1-CR9.

Interpretive Summary: The current study evaluated how three different methods of physical activity assessment impacted the relationship between coronary heart disease risk factors and physical activity. The physical activity assessment methods evaluated included self-report recall, activity logs, and activity monitors. Results suggest that higher levels of physical activity are linked to lower coronary heart disease risk; however, the strength of this relationship varied depending on the method used to assess physical activity. In women, 10-year coronary heart disease risk decreased when physical activity was measured by the activity monitor but not the log or recall. In men, risk decreased when physical activity was measured via the activity monitor and recall but not the log. The authors believe the incongruence between methods occurs because different assessment methods measure different dimensions of physical activity, and because of the inherent measurement errors of the methods. The results of this study highlight the need for researchers to use standardized, agreed upon methods to investigate behavior-disease relationships.

Technical Abstract: Physical activity (PA) protects against coronary heart disease (CHD) by favorably altering several CHD risk factors. In order to best understand the true nature of the relationship between PA and CHD, the impact different PA assessment methods have on the relationships must first be clarified. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between the Framingham Risk Score on 10-year estimated risk of CHD (10-year CHD risk) and three different PA assessment methods. Female (n=143) and male (n=155) adults wore activity monitors and recorded PA in logs during a 7-day period after which they completed a 7-day PA recall and had CHD risk factors assessed. The 10-year CHD risk was calculated from the CHD risk factors. Multiple regression analyses showed 10-year CHD risk was negatively associated with physical activity measured by the activity monitor (p<0.05) but not the log or recall in women. In men, significant inverse relationships between 10-year CHD risk and physical activity measured by the activity monitor and recall were observed. The log was not significantly associated with 10-year CHD risk in men. The results of this study concur with previous research in that PA is associated with the risk of developing CHD; however, the findings clearly suggest that it is important to consider the PA assessment method when interpreting this relationship.